Chapter 11
1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead ; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash , " Make a covenant with us , and we will serve you ."
2 Nahash the Ammonite said to them , " On this condition I will make it with you , that all your right eyes be gouged out . I will make this dishonor all Israel ."
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him , "Give us seven days , that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel ; and then , if there is no one to save us , we will come out to you ."
4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul , and spoke these words in the ears of the people , then all the people lifted up their voice and wept .
5 Behold , Saul came following the oxen out of the field ; and Saul said , " What ails the people that they weep ?" They told him the words of the men of Jabesh .
6 God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words , and his anger burned hot .
7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces , then sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers , saying, " Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel , so shall it be done to his oxen ." The dread of Yahweh fell on the people , and they came out as one man .
8 He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9 They said to the messengers who came , " Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead , ‘ Tomorrow , by the time the sun is hot , you will be rescued.’" The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh ; and they were glad .
10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said , " Tomorrow we will come out to you , and you shall do with us all that seems good to you ."
11 On the next day , Saul put the people in three companies ; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day . Those who remained were scattered , so that no two of them were left together .
12 The people said to Samuel , " Who is he who said, ‘ Shall Saul reign over us ?’ Bring those men , that we may put them to death !"
13 Saul said, " No man shall be put to death today ; for today Yahweh has rescued Israel ."
14 Then Samuel said to the people , " Come ! Let ’s go to Gilgal , and renew the kingdom there ."
15 All the people went to Gilgal ; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal . There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh ; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly .